Page 3837 - Week 14 - Thursday, 10 December 1992
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
Madam Speaker, I would like to pay a tribute to Mr Rebikoff at this point in his career, because he has made many contributions to the advancement of ethnic affairs. His contribution has included achievements such as initiating the annual multicultural Australia Day festival in Canberra in 1980. He has campaigned for the extension of multicultural television to Canberra. He initiated the Ansett ethnic youth award and acted as a member of the ACT Bicentennial Committee. He has convened FECCA's media network since 1990. He is also arranging for land to be allocated for FECCA's national headquarters in Canberra and he has represented the ACT on the Commonwealth Ethnic Affairs Settlement Advisory Council.
Madam Speaker, Mr Rebikoff has also been instrumental in hosting and supporting the national congress in the ACT on two separate occasions. We very much encourage conventions to come to Canberra. He has been a very strong campaigner for funding and for resources for the ECC. The ECC has proved an invaluable source of advice and an invaluable vehicle of consultation to me in the time that I have been in this Assembly and, of course, Mr Rebikoff has been very closely involved in all of that.
Madam Speaker, most members will know that Mr Rebikoff was awarded the Order of Australia in 1989 for his services to the migrant community. Having achieved the status of president of FECCA, he has brought further honour to the ACT. He has certainly shown that he is prepared to work on in the cause of ethnic affairs in the ACT. He has always shown his commitment in a non-partisan way and I know that that is the further commitment that he has given in his new position. I am sure that his approach will be effective in achieving the social justice objectives of FECCA. I congratulate Mr Rebikoff on his achievement at the national level. I think he is an excellent choice as chairperson of FECCA. I wish him and FECCA well under the new regime.
Mr Vic Rebikoff
MRS GRASSBY (4.39): Madam Speaker, I would like to join with the Chief Minister in congratulating Mr Rebikoff. I have known Mr Rebikoff since he has been in Canberra. He has been a hard worker for the ethnic communities here. He won his new position by a vote of nearly two to one - it was 30 to 16. That is the sort of vote we all like to see. It shows that he was a very popular choice by the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia to be its national president. I think it would be good to have the FECCA headquarters in Canberra. Now that Mr Rebikoff has won his very high position, that is possible. The other candidate came from Melbourne. I think we are very lucky that Mr Rebikoff was the choice of the FECCA delegates to be the national president for the next four years.
I have spoken to Mr Rebikoff, and he has some wonderful ideas for the ethnic communities councils around Australia, particularly here in Canberra. I know that all members here look forward to the Australia Day functions on 23 January, when we will all be entertained by the ethnic communities of Canberra in their national dresses and will enjoy their food. It will be a most enjoyable time for all.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .